TSA Limits Banned Items, Boosts Random Searches

The Transportation Security Administration today modified its list of allowable items cleared through airport checkpoints, while expanding its level of passenger screening—warning that airline passengers "can expect to see more random screenings."

Effective Dec. 22, "scissors with a cutting edge of four inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers smaller than seven inches will be permitted on board," TSA said, adding that scissors more than four inches in length still are prohibited as are crowbars, drills, hammers, saws and lighters.

By removing such items from the banned list, TSA said it is focusing on "more serious threats," namely explosives—the detection of which TSA said it is adamantly working to improve.

Potentially causing delays for travelers, TSA is bolstering the level of additional screening methods, including the screening of shoes for explosives, hand-wand inspections, "enhanced pat-down searches" and carry-on baggage inspections.

"It is paramount to the security of our aviation system that terrorists not be able to know with certainty what screening procedures they will encounter at airports around the nation," said TSA director Kip Hawley. "By incorporating unpredictability into our procedures and eliminating low-threat items, we can better focus our efforts on stopping individuals that wish to do us harm."